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. 2024 Sep 27;11(10):ofae539.
doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofae539. eCollection 2024 Oct.

Has Ghana's Rotavirus Vaccine Switch Met Programmatic Expectations? An Analysis of National Surveillance Data; 2018-2022

Michael Rockson Adjei  1   2 , Justice Ofori Amoah  3 , George Bonsu  4 , Rafiq Okine  5 , Naziru Tanko Mohammed  6 , Kwame Amponsa-Achiano  6 , Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe  6 , Patrick Kuma-Aboagye  6 , Jason Mathiu Mwenda  7 , Martin Peter Grobusch  1   8   9   10   11 , Sally-Ann Ohene  2
Affiliations

Has Ghana's Rotavirus Vaccine Switch Met Programmatic Expectations? An Analysis of National Surveillance Data; 2018-2022

Michael Rockson Adjei et al. Open Forum Infect Dis. .

Erratum in

Abstract

Background: Ghana introduced a 2-dose schedule rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix, into childhood immunization in 2012 but switched to a 3-dose schedule vaccine, Rotavac, in 2020 on account of programmatic advantages offered by the latter, including lower cost per fully immunized child and lower cold chain volume requirement. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of the vaccine switch on the trends of rotavirus vaccine uptake and health facility outpatient department (OPD) attendance due to diarrhea among children aged 1-11 months.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on childhood immunization and diarrhea surveillance data for 2018-2022. The uptake of the different rotavirus vaccine products and the proportion of health facility OPD attendance attributed to diarrhea, respectively, were compared between the pre- and postswitch study periods.

Results: The uptake of rotavirus vaccine was sustained following the switch. There were no significant differences in vaccination coverages (rota1, Rotarix coverage [94.3%], vs rota1, Rotavac coverage [95.3%]; P = .757; rota2, Rotarix coverage [91.3%], vs rota2, Rotavac coverage [92.7%]; P = .789). The proportions of health facility OPD attendance due to diarrhea were comparable (preswitch [12.4%] vs postswitch [12.1%]; P = .838).

Conclusions: Ghana's rotavirus vaccine switch yielded expected programmatic benefits without any untoward effects. The trends of vaccine uptake and reduction in diarrhea morbidity were sustained. These experiences and lessons from the rotavirus vaccine switch are vital for potential switches for other vaccines in the current immunization schedule to mitigate the annual vaccine expenditure.

Keywords: Rotarix; Rotavac; childhood immunization; rotavirus; vaccine switch.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A, Rotavirus vaccination coverage by year, Ghana; 2018–2022. B, Doses of rotavirus vaccine administered per schedule, Ghana; 2018–2022.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Health facility attendance among children aged 1–11 months, Ghana, 2018–2022.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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